Storage container

ABSTRACT

A storage container having a pivotable door pivotable between an open and closed position is provided. The storage container includes a housing configured to hold the pivotable door and a biasing member operable to bias the pivotable door between the open and closed position. A mount is disposed on the pivotable door. The mount includes a loading member. The biasing member is operatively connected to the mount. The biasing member is configured to engage the loading member so as to retain the biasing member in a fixed position with respect to the pivotable door prior to assembling the pivotable door to the housing. A method for installing or assembling a storage container having a pivotable door is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a storage container having a pivotable doorpivotable between an open and closed position. A biasing member isconfigured to engage the loading member so as to retain the biasingmember in a fixed position with respect to the pivotable door prior toinstalling the pivotable door onto a housing. A method for assembling astorage container having a pivotable door is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage containers having a pivotable door are known. The pivotabledoors include a biasing member operable to bias the door between an openand closed position. However, the installation of the pivotable doorwith respect to the housing may be difficult as the biasing member mayinterfere. Thus, the installer must physically retain the biasing memberin a fixed position to prevent the biasing member from interfering asthe pivotable door is mounted into the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a storage container having apivotable door pivotable between an open and closed position isprovided. The storage container includes a housing configured to holdthe pivotable door. A biasing member is operable to bias the pivotabledoor between an open and closed position with respect to the housing.

A mount is disposed on the pivotable door. The mount includes a loadingmember. The biasing member is operatively connected to the mount. Theloading member is configured to retain the biasing member in a fixedposition with respect to the pivotable door so as to facilitate theassembly of the pivotable door to the housing.

According to another aspect of the invention a method for assembling astorage container is provided. The method includes providing a housing,a pivotable door, and a biasing member. The pivotable door is configuredto pivot with respect to the housing. Specifically, the biasing memberis operable to pivot the pivotable door between an open and closedposition.

The method includes providing a mount on the pivotable door. The mountincludes a loading member. The loading member is configured to engagethe biasing member so as to retain the biasing member in a fixedposition relative to the pivotable door. The method further includes thestep of engaging the biasing member to the loading member and installingthe pivotable door into the housing. The method further includes thestep of disengaging the biasing member from the loading member so as toallow the biasing member to urge the pivotable door to an open positionwith respect to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the storage container mounted tothe instrument panel assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the back portion of the storagecontainer;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back side of the housing;

FIG. 4 is an exploded viewing showing the back side of the pivotabledoor;

FIG. 5 is an isolated view showing the biasing member engaged with theloading member; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective isolated view showing the biasing member removedfrom the loading member after installation of the pivotable door withrespect to the housing.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing the method for assembling a storagecontainer having a pivotable door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to FIGS. 1-6, a first preferred embodiment of astorage container 10 is provided. The storage container 10 includes ahousing 12. The housing 12 may be formed of an injection molded materialsuch as plastic or some other polymer composite. The housing 12 mayinclude attachment features configured to attach the storage container10 to an instrument panel assembly 14 of an automotive vehicle 16.

The housing 12 includes a housing back wall 18, a pair of housing sidewalls 20 spaced apart from each other, and a housing top wall 22. Thehousing top wall 22 and the housing back wall 18 extend betweenrespective housing side walls 20 so as to enclose a space having ahousing opening 24.

The storage container 10 further includes a pivotable door 26. Thepivotable door 26 is configured to cover the housing opening 24. Thepivotable door 26 may include a first front wall 28, a pair of firstside walls 30 spaced apart from each other, and a first back wall 32spaced apart from the first front wall 28. The first back wall 32 andthe first front wall 28 extend between each of the first side walls 30so as to form a first opening 34 and a storage bin 36 configured to holdarticles. When in the closed position the first opening 34 is covered bythe housing top wall 22. When in the closed position, the first opening34 is exposed so as to allow the storage bin 36 to receive articlestherein.

Though the figures show the first front and first back walls 28, 32angled relative to each other and being connected at the bottom ends todefine storage bin 36 having a generally “V” shaped profile, it shouldbe appreciated that the storage bin 36 may be dimensioned otherwise.

A biasing member 38 is operable to bias the pivotable door 26 betweenthe open and closed position with respect to the housing 12. In the openposition the first front wall 28 of the pivotable door 26 is displacedrelative to the housing opening 24 so as to provide access to thestorage bin 36 of the pivotable door 26. In the closed position thefirst front wall 28 of the pivotable door 26 is generally flush alongthe same plane as the exterior side edges of respective housing sidewalls 20.

The storage container 10 includes a mount 40. The mount 40 is formed ona first side wall 30 of the pivotable door 26. The mount 40 isconfigured to support the biasing member 38. The mount 40 may beintegrally formed to the first side wall 30 or attached thereto usingknown attachment methods such as vibrational welding, a screw, or thelike.

The mount 40 includes a loading member 42. The biasing member 38 isoperatively connected to the mount 40 and is configured to engage theloading member 42. The loading member 42 is operable to restrain thebiasing member 38 so as to place the biasing member 38 in a fixedposition with respect to the pivotable door 26. Accordingly, thepivotable door 26 is operable to preload the biasing member 38 prior toinstallation of the pivotable door 26 into the housing 12.

With reference now to FIG. 4 an example of a biasing member 38 adaptablefor use herein is provided. The biasing member 38 includes a centerportion 44 and a second portion 46 spaced apart and opposite a firstportion 48. The center portion 44 is operable to bias the first portion48 away from the second portion 46.

The center portion 44 of the biasing member 38 may be a coil. A pair oflegs extend from opposite ends of the coil. Each of the pair of legs isa corresponding first and second portion 48, 46. The pair of legsextending oppositely from a center coil. The biasing member 38 may beformed of a resilient material such as steel.

The center portion 44 of the biasing member 38 is mounted to the mount40. The mount 40 may further include a first shaft 50. The first shaft50 extends outwardly from a first side wall 30 of the pivotable door 26.A second shaft (not shown) may be disposed on the other of the firstside walls 30 of the pivotable door 26. The shafts 50 are aligned alongthe same axis. The body of each of the shafts 50 is generallycylindrical.

The housing 12 includes a first opening 34 on one of the housing sidewalls 20 and a second opening (not shown) on the other of the housingside walls 20. The first and second openings 34 are operable to receivethe respective first and second shafts 50. The cylindrical body of theshafts 50 facilitates the rotation of the shafts 50 within respectivefirst and second openings 34.

The first shaft 50 may further include a plurality of flanges 52extending radially from a center point of the first shaft 50. Theflanges 52 are generally elongated and are configured to help hold thecenter portion 44 of the biasing member 38 in a fixed position. Thecenter portion 44 is dimensioned to fittingly engage the outer edges ofthe flanges 52 of the first shaft 50 so as to help retain the centerportion 44 thereto.

Prior to installing the pivotable door 26 to the housing 12, the centerportion 44 of the biasing member 38 is mounted to the first shaft 50.The second portion 46 of the biasing member 38 is placed against aportion of pivotable door 26 and urges the pivotable door 26 outwardlyaway from the first shaft 50. The first portion 48 of the biasing member38 is connected to the loading member 42. In such a manner the biasingmember 38 is preloaded onto the pivotable door 26.

The housing back wall 18 may further include a window 54. The window 54is disposed on the housing back wall 18 so as to receive a first portion48 of the biasing member 38 when the pivotable door 26 is mountedthereto. The window 54 is further dimensioned so as to allow the biasingmember 38 to be removed or disengaged from the loading member 42.Accordingly, the pivotable door 26 may be preloaded as described above,and the first portion 48 may be disengaged from the loading member 42when the pivotable door 26 is installed onto the housing 12. Uponinsertion of the pivotable door 26 into the housing 12, the user maysimply disengage the biasing member 38 from the loading member 42 so asto allow the biasing member 38 to urge the front wall of the pivotabledoor 26 away from the housing back wall 18. Thus the storage container10 may be assembled without having the biasing member 38 interfering.

The window 54 may further include a catch 56. The catch 56 is configuredto hold the first portion 48 of the biasing member 38 so as to allow thebiasing member 38 to urge the pivotable door 26 to an open position withrespect to the housing 12. For instance, the catch 56 may be a slot 58extending downwardly from a portion of a bottom peripheral edge of thewindow 54. The slot 58 may be dimensioned so as to receive the firstportion 48 of the biasing member 38. Accordingly, the biasing member 38is operable to urge a first portion 48 of the biasing member 38downwardly against the distal end of the slot 58.

The second portion 46 of the biasing member 38 is urged in the oppositedirection from the first portion 48. The second portion 46 of thebiasing member 38 may be fixedly mounted or engaged to an inner surfaceof the front wall of the pivotable door 26. Thus the biasing member 38continuously urges the front wall of the pivotable door 26 away from ahousing back wall 18.

The storage container 10 may further include a dampener 60 operable toregulate the movement of the pivotable door 26 between the open andclosed position. The dampener 60 may include a rotatable member 62frictionally mounted to an inner surface of the housing side wall 20.The rotatable member 62 is operable to resist rotation or pivoting ofthe pivotable door 26 so as to dampen or slow the movement of thepivotable door 26 from a closed to an open position. For instance, thepivotable door 26 may include a guide 64 disposed on an outer surface ofthe first side wall 30 having the mount 40. The rotatable member 62 isconfigured to engage the guide 64 so as to slow the pivoting of thepivotable door 26.

The storage container 10 may further include an actuator 66 and aretaining mechanism 68. The retaining mechanism 68 may be mounted to atop side edge of the inner surface of the pivotable door 26. Theactuator 66 is operatively connected to the retaining mechanism 68. Theretaining mechanism 68 is configured to retain the pivotable door 26 ina closed position. The actuator 66 may be actuated so as to release thepivotable door 26 from the housing 12 whereupon the biasing member 38 isfree to urge the pivotable door 26 into the open position.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-6, a first preferred embodiment of theloading member 42 is provided. The loading member 42 is adjacent abottom side edge of the pivotable door 26 and is spaced apart from themount 40. The loading member 42 includes a base portion 70 having afirst elongated portion 72 extending upwardly from the base portion 70.The first elongated portion 72 is spaced apart from the first side wall30. A support edge 74 extends inwardly with respect to the first sidewall 30 so as to place the first elongated portion 72 generallyorthogonal to the support edge 74. The first elongated portion 72extends upwardly beyond the support edge 74.

The mount 40 is disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the pivotable door26 where the first front wall 28 and first back wall 32 connect. Thefirst side walls 30 extend between respective first front and first backwalls 28, 32 and are displaced inwardly with respect to the outer sideedge of the first front and first back wall 28, 32, so as to define aside flange 76 on each side of the first front wall 28.

The biasing member 38 is shown mounted to the mount 40. Specifically,the center portion 44 of the biasing member 38 is mounted to the firstshaft 50. The first portion 48 of the biasing member 38 is shown engagedwith the support edge 74. The first elongated portion 72 is operable toprevent the first portion 48 from being displaced axially away from thesupport edge 74. Specifically, the first elongated portion 72 isconfigured to prevent the first biasing member 38 from sliding away fromthe first side wall 30 and off the support edge 74. The center portion44 of the biasing member 38 is operable to urge the first portion 48downwardly against the support edge 74 as shown.

The second portion 46 of the biasing member 38 is operatively engagedwith the side flange 76 of the first side wall 30. Thus the loadingmember 42 retains the biasing member 38 in a fixed position with respectto the door. The first and second portions 48, 46 of the biasing member38 are restrained from expansion by the side flange 76 and the supportedge 74 of the loading member 42.

Accordingly, during assembly the installer may simply load the biasingmember 38 onto the loading member 42. Specifically the center portion 44of the biasing member 38 is mounted onto the first shaft 50. The inneredges of the coil are biased against the outer edge of respective tabs.The first portion 48 of the biasing member 38 is manipulated over thefirst elongated portion 72 and allowed to come to rest onto the supportedge 74. The second portion 46 of the biasing member 38 is placed alongthe side flange 76. In such a manner, the biasing member 38 is fixedrelative to the pivotable door 26. The pivotable door 26 may then beinserted into the housing opening 24 wherein the first and second shafts50 may be positioned to engage respective side wall openings 24, 34, 52of the housing 12.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a perspective view showing the housingback wall 18 of the housing 12 is provided. The back wall includes awindow 54. The window 54 is disposed so as to be registered provideaccess to the loading member 42. As shown, the window 54 is formed on alower bottom portion of the housing back wall 18 adjacent a housing sidewall 20.

The pivotable door 26 is inserted into the housing 12 wherein the firstand second shafts 50 are inserted into respective first and secondopenings 34. The installer need not have hold the biasing member 38 toprevent the biasing member 38 from interfering and is thus free toconcentrate on the insertion of the first and second shafts 50 intotheir respective openings 24, 34, 52. It should be appreciated that thehousing side walls 20 are resilient so as to allow for expansion of thehousing 12 to fit the first and second shafts 50.

When the pivotable door 26 is mounted to the housing 12, the firstportion 48 of the biasing member 38 is received through the opening ofthe window 54. The first portion 48 extends beyond an outer surface ofthe back wall. Thus the user may simply lift the first portion 48 overthe first elongated portion 72 and into the catch 56 wherein the firstportion 48 is operably engaged with a distal end of the slot 58 so as tobias against a fixed portion of the housing 12. Naturally, the secondportion 46 remains operatively connected to the outer edge of the firstside wall 30 thus continuously urging the front wall of the pivotabledoor 26 towards an open position.

A retaining mechanism 68 is operable to retain the front wall of thepivotable door 26 in a closed position with respect to the opening ofthe housing 12. Actuation of the actuator 66 is operable to release thefront wall and allow the biasing member 38 to urge the pivotable door 26to an open position. The dampener 60 is operable to slow and regulatethe movement of the pivotable door 26 between the closed and openposition.

With reference now to FIG. 7, a method for assembling a storagecontainer 10 having a pivotable door 26 is provided. The housing 12includes a housing back wall 18, a pair of housing side walls 20 spacedapart from each other, and a housing top wall 22. The housing top wall22 and the housing back wall 18 extend between respective housing sidewalls 20 so as to enclose a space having a housing opening 24

The pivotable door 26 includes a front wall configured to cover thehousing opening 24. The pivotable door 26 is configured to cover thehousing opening 24. The pivotable door 26 may further include a pair offirst side walls 30 spaced apart from each other, and a first back wall32 spaced apart from the front wall. The first back wall 32 and thefirst front wall 28 extend between each of the first side walls 30 so asto form a first opening 34 and a storage bin 36 configured to holdarticles. When in the closed position the first opening 34 is covered bythe housing top wall 22. When in the closed position, the first opening34 is exposed so as to allow the storage bin 36 to receive articlestherein.

The pivotable door 26 further includes a mount 40. A mount 40 isdisposed on the pivotable door 26, the mount 40 having a loading member42, the biasing member 38 operatively connected to the mount 40 whereinthe loading member 42 is configured to engage the biasing member 38 soas to restrain the biasing member 38 in a fixed position with respect tothe pivotable door 26.

A biasing member 38 is operable to bias the pivotable door 26 betweenthe open and closed position with respect to the housing 12. In the openposition the front wall of the pivotable door 26 is displaced relativeto the housing opening 24 so as to provide access to the storage bin 36of the pivotable door 26. In the closed position the front wall of thepivotable door 26 is generally flush along the same plane as theexterior side edges of respective housing side walls 20.

The pivotable door 26 further includes a mount 40 formed on a first sidewall 30 of the pivotable door 26. The mount 40 is configured to supportthe biasing member 38. The mount 40 may be integrally formed to thefirst side wall 30 or attached thereto using known attachment methodssuch as vibrational welding, a screw, or the like.

The method includes the step of providing a loading member 42 andengaging the biasing member 38 to the loading member 42. The biasingmember 38 is operatively connected to the mount 40 and is configured toengage the loading member 42. The loading member 42 is operable torestrain the biasing member 38 so as to place the biasing member 38 in afixed position with respect to the pivotable door 26. Accordingly, thepivotable door 26 is configured to preload the biasing member 38 priorto installation of the pivotable door 26 into the housing 12. Forinstance, the biasing member 38 is mounted onto the mount 40, a firstportion 48 of the biasing member 38 is engaged with the loading member42, installing the pivotable door 26 into the housing 12, and releasingthe biasing member 38 from the loading member 42.

The method proceeds to the step of disengaging the biasing member 38from the pivotable door 26. Accordingly, the method allows for thebiasing member 38 to be retained in a fixed position with respect to thepivotable door 26 and thus prevents the biasing member 38 frominterfering with the installation of the pivotable door 26 to thehousing 12.

The method may further include the step of providing a window 54 on theback wall of the housing 12 wherein the window 54 is dimensioned toreceive the first portion 48 of the biasing member 38 when the pivotabledoor 26 is mounted to the housing 12. The method may further include thestep of removing the first portion 48 from the loading member 42 andplacing the first portion 48 of the biasing member 38 into the catch 56.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A storage container having a pivotable doorpivotable between an open and closed position, the storage containercomprising: a housing configured to hold the pivotable door having apair of first side walls, a first front wall spaced apart and opposite afirst back wall, each of the pair of first side walls spaced apart fromeach other, the first front and back walls extending between each of thepair of first side walls, a window disposed on the first back wall; abiasing member operable to bias the pivotable door between the open andclosed position with respect to the housing; and a mount and a loadingmember spaced apart from the mount, both the mount and the loadingmember disposed on the pivotable door, the biasing member operativelyconnected to the mount, the biasing member configured to engage theloading member, the mount and loading member working in concert so as tohold the biasing member in a compressed position when mounting thepivotable door to the storage container, the window dimensioned toreceive a first portion of the biasing member so as to allow the biasingmember to be removed from the loading member so as to facilitate theassembly of the pivotable door to the housing.
 2. The storage containeras set forth in claim 1, wherein the window further includes a catchconfigured to hold the first portion of the biasing member so as toallow the biasing member to urge the pivotable door to an open positionwith respect to the housing.
 3. The storage container as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the biasing member includes a center portion and asecond portion, the center portion operable to bias the first portionaway from the second portion.
 4. The storage container as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the mount is a shaft extending outwardly from a sidewall of the pivotable door, the housing includes an opening configuredto receive the shaft, the shaft pivotable within the opening.
 5. Thestorage container as set forth in claim 1, further including a dampeneroperable to regulate the movement of the pivoting between the open andclosed positions.
 6. The storage container as set forth in claim 1,further including an actuator and a retaining mechanism, the retainingmechanism operable to retain the pivotable door in a closed position,the actuator operable actuate the retaining mechanism so as to releasethe pivotable door from the housing.
 7. The storage container as setforth in claim 1, wherein the pivotable door includes a pair of firstside walls, a first front wall spaced apart and opposite a first backwall, each of the pair of first side walls spaced apart from each other,the first front and back walls extending between each of the pair offirst side walls so as to form a storage bin.
 8. The storage containeras set forth in claim 7, wherein the housing is disposed within theinstrument panel of an automotive vehicle.
 9. The storage container asset forth in claim 1, wherein the loading member includes a firstelongated portion generally orthogonal to a support edge, the supportedge operable to retain the first portion in a fixed position relativeto the pivotable door.
 10. The storage container as set forth in claim2, wherein the catch is a slot extending from an inner peripheral edgeof the window.
 11. A method of assembling a storage container, thestorage container having a housing, a pivotable door pivotably disposedwithin the housing, the pivotable door having a first front wall spacedapart a first back wall, and a pair of side walls spaced apart from eachother and extending between the first front and first back walls, thepivotable door pivotable between an open position and a closed position,a mount, and a biasing member mounted to the mount and operativelyconnected to the pivotable door and configured to urge the pivotabledoor into the open position, the housing configured to hold thepivotable door, the method comprising the steps of: providing a loadingmember operable to restrain the biasing member; providing a window onthe first back wall, the window dimensioned as to receive a firstportion of the biasing member; engaging the biasing member to theloading member so as restrain the biasing member from biasing thepivotable door; installing the pivotable door to the housing; andengaging the first portion of the biasing member so as to disengage thefirst portion of the biasing member from the pivotable door.
 12. Themethod as set forth in claim 11, further including the step of providinga catch operable to engage the first portion, and disengaging the firstportion from the loading member after installing the pivotable door tothe housing and engaging the first portion with the catch.